[0:03] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America to the republic

[0:10] of nation.

[0:18] » Thank you. Roll call, please. >> Here

[0:27] » clerk here. Anybody on? No. On zero on Zoom.

[0:34] » Zero on Zoom for the record there at seven tonight.

[0:38] » Thank you. Uh before we call for approval of the

[0:42] meeting agenda, I do have one addition to the agenda. It'll be number 16. It

[0:47] will be the master plan. Master plan seminar.

[0:54] Is there any other board member that wishes to make an addition or a

[0:57] correction to the agenda? this evening.

[1:05] » Delete anything. >> Pardon?

[1:06] » I'm just looking at this one. Are we deleting anything?

[1:10] » No, we'll table those when we come. Okay.

[1:12] » Okay. All right. Not hearing any. Um all those please. I need to call for the

[1:18] approval of the agenda. >> So moved.

[1:21] » Moved by uh clerk Squire to approve it. >> Ordered by Trustee Oling. Any further

[1:26] discussion? Board. All those in favor indicate by saying I.

[1:30] » I. >> I.

[1:31] » Same. That motion carries. Thank you. With the addition of 16.

[1:36] We are on to the approval of the consent agenda. I would entertain a motion um to

[1:41] place the con to approve the consent agenda as presented.

[1:46] » I'll make that motion. >> Thank you. Trustee

[1:50] support. Trustee Oling. Any further discussion

[1:55] about anything on the consent agenda board?

[1:59] Hearing none, all those in favor indicate saying I.

[2:02] » I oppose the same. That motion carries. Thank you.

[2:07] And to the elected officials report, I would entertain a motion that we that we

[2:12] acknowledge them, accept them, and place them on file. They're on the back table,

[2:17] and they're also out on the internet for the consumption of the public. Do I have

[2:21] a motion to uh accept and place those on file, please?

[2:25] » So moved. Moved by Treasure Anderson. We have any support.

[2:29] » Support. >> Support by clerk Squires. Any further

[2:32] discussion? Board. Hearing none. All those in favor in the

[2:36] case of saying I >> oppos the same. Motion carries. We're at

[2:41] the first portion. Public comments uh on the agend

[2:47] listed. Um so any public comment on any of those items particularly now would be

[2:54] the time to make your comment.

[3:00] We have no one on Zoom. So it would be in the room.

[3:05] Okay. Not seeing any. We're going to move on into our agenda. Uh the new

[3:10] business. Um, we had the pleasure tonight to start our meeting off uh with

[3:16] honoring a fellow from our community who has uh given lots of his time and effort

[3:22] and dedication and uh with an act now community service award presentation and

[3:27] I will turn this over to you folks.

[3:36] » Julie, are you doing the speaking? >> Yeah, I'm pretty loud though. Do I still

[3:39] need to talk? >> Well, just make sure you can hear.

[3:42] That's all. The YouTube audience later. So,

[3:46] » okay. We're just going to introduce ourselves

[3:50] real quick. If you do not know who we are, we we serve many roles in the

[3:54] community on different boards. Um, Chief Mishensky is on our ACT now board as a

[3:59] non- voting advisory member. John Ellis is our chairperson. I'm Julie Hill. I am

[4:06] our um secretary. and Mike Briggs is our uh co-chair. So,

[4:14] real quickly, ACT Now, if you're not familiar with it, we have been in

[4:17] existence since 1999. We're a nonprofit 501c3 organization that works in

[4:24] coordination with the police department to basically raise money and hold all

[4:29] kinds of wonderful community events. Um, there is some brochures on the back

[4:33] table back there if you'd like to pick one up. It talks more about what we are

[4:37] and who we are and our mission and our different uh event schedule is in there.

[4:42] Also, um if you'd like to join and get on our

[4:46] mailing list, let me or one of us know and we can add you to our group email so

[4:51] you can receive our uh newsletters and our uh communications. Um tonight we

[4:57] would like to uh present uh a community service award to Ralph Roland. He has

[5:03] served on our You can come on up, Ralph. He has served on our executive board for

[5:08] six years as a representative, but even prior to that, he volunteered

[5:14] many years and participated in many of our events that we hold every year, like

[5:18] our trunk or treat, um our scholarship program, which he was really fond of,

[5:24] our annual golf outing, our bowling fundraiser, shop with a cop. Um so um on

[5:31] behalf of ACT now we would like to present this award to Ralph

[5:36] and it just says uh in recognition and appreciation presented Ralph Roland.

[5:42] Thank you for your dedicated service and commitment to act now in the Garish

[5:46] Township community. >> Thank you.

[5:54] » We appreciate you.

[6:00] pictures.

[6:08] » Here. Right here, Rob. >> Come in the middle.

[6:12] » There you go.

[6:22] » Not mine.

[6:25] » Thank you. Thank you.

[6:46] » Thank you guys very much for the opportunity to uh sit in on this and

[6:50] honor Ralph at our regular board meeting. ACT Now is definitely

[6:55] integrated very much into our community and without good volunteers um like

[7:00] Ralph um and the rest of those folks on the executive board um I don't know what

[7:06] we would do um with our community between our cert and our act now. Um

[7:11] it's a force multiplier and thank you all very much on behalf of the board.

[7:15] Thank you. Now, if there was anybody here

[7:20] specifically for that and you didn't feel like you really wanted to sit

[7:24] through the meeting, you do not offend the board if you did want to leave. I

[7:28] want you to know that we do have a rather long agenda this evening. So,

[7:34] okay. Uh we are on to number two. Um, and number two is the proposed uh

[7:42] conditional hire of a Garris Township Police Department full-time patrol

[7:45] officer, Rich Cahoun. And uh, I would entertain a motion by

[7:52] the board to approve the conditional offer of employment to Rich Cahoun for a

[7:58] full-time police officer pending. Michigan Commission law enforcement

[8:02] standards required paperwork, physical and drug testing and background check

[8:07] and for that hire to be immediately when that's concluded. Does anybody want to

[8:12] make that motion? >> So move. Moved by treasurer Anderson. We

[8:15] have a support. Trustee Oling.

[8:20] Is there any further discussion? Board >> hearing? None. All those in favor

[8:25] indicate saying I. I >> I

[8:28] » oppose the same motion carried. Thank you.

[8:33] » Number three, we have a resignation from the board of review from Brad Gibson. Um

[8:42] Brad will be leaving us on December 31st to 26 to actually travel as retired.

[8:49] It's my understanding. uh during that time of year in which that's pressing.

[8:53] We we are going to have two open positions on the board of review. One

[8:58] would be an alternate and one to replace uh Brad who would be was a just stepped

[9:06] up to being on as a regular. So, um look forward to that announcement out there

[9:12] throwing it out there to see if we can get anybody. It's a very important board

[9:16] uh very important board to listen to the taxpayers's concern and it's a check and

[9:21] balance for the assessor's office. So um so I would entertain a motion that the

[9:26] board approve that resignation from uh Garris Township Board of Review

[9:30] effective 1231 of 26 from Brad Gibson. >> So moved.

[9:34] » Moved by Clerk Squires.

[9:39] » Support Treasury Anderson with regret. >> Yeah, absolutely.

[9:44] All right, we have a motion and a second on the floor. Any further discussion?

[9:49] Hearing none, all those uh in favor indicate by saying I.

[9:53] » I oppose the same motion carry. He will he will be a loss

[9:59] for sure. Okay. And we're on to number four.

[10:05] Number four is the authorization authorize uh uh the supervisor to sign a

[10:12] professional service agreement with Psyduck Incorporated for services that

[10:16] would be related to uh proposed improvements to recreation maintenance

[10:22] facilities uh at the Garris Township Municipal Center uh property here uh

[10:28] right here. So, um, we talked about this obviously been talking about it for over

[10:32] a year actually and now it's time to move forward in finding out what the

[10:36] dollars might be and get some conceptual renderings and proposals and costs. So,

[10:42] uh, I would entertain a motion that the board approve Supervisor Hill to sign

[10:48] that professional service agreement with Psyduck Incorporated for services

[10:52] related to proposed improvements to recreation/maintenance

[10:56] facilities at the Garris Township Municipal Property.

[11:00] » So moved. >> Moved by

[11:03] Trustee Oling. Is it supported? >> I'll support that.

[11:06] » Boarded by Trustee Poppy. Any further discussion board?

[11:13] Hearing none, all those in favor indicate by saying I.

[11:16] » I oppose the same. That motion carries. Thank you.

[11:23] We are now to number five.

[11:31] This is uh something we do each year this time of year in September in order

[11:35] to send the figures to the county for the tax pieces. And so I will read uh

[11:44] what needs to go here. Uh and we have to uh be willing to

[11:51] determine this particular statement. So, the board determines police protection

[11:56] to be in the best interest of the township and that a special assessment

[11:59] district to be created under the provisions of public act 81 of 1989 in

[12:05] which the cost of service shall be assessed according to benefits. The

[12:09] total budget for the police protection for 2027 2028 has been determined to be

[12:14] 1,329,189

[12:19] including $283,000 in carryover. The special assessment

[12:25] district shall contain all the taxable property within the township and with a

[12:29] millage rate to be 2.39 mills with no increase from previous year to yield

[12:36] $1,46,189.

[12:40] Do I have a motion to >> I'll make that motion.

[12:45] » Do I have a motion? >> You do. Cliffwires, you'll make that

[12:48] motion. >> Yes, sir.

[12:50] » As read. >> Yes, sir.

[12:51] » All right. Do we have support? support >> board treasure Anderson. Is there any

[12:57] further discussion? Board hearing none. Roll call, please.

[13:03] » Bill, >> yes.

[13:05] » Yes. >> Treasure Anderson,

[13:08] » yes. >> Trusty,

[13:10] » yes. >> Trusty,

[13:12] » yes. >> Five yeses or yays and no naysay that I

[13:16] declare the motion passed.

[13:23] Number six

[13:27] is actually the Garris Township by the agenda. Garris Township sanitation

[13:32] assessment per parcel $235. >> I

[13:38] think I know that I have not to do that and I did it anyways.

[13:43] » I have on the agenda township sanitation assessment and we'll do it. I'll come

[13:49] back to her. I see they're they're out of order.

[13:51] » Yes, they are. I'm going to put it back up. I'm going to go in order of the

[13:54] agenda. Garris Township sanitation assessment per parcel $235.

[14:00] Um, so I would entertain a motion that the board approve the sanitation special

[14:04] assessment at $235 per parcel for the upcoming taxable year. Motion. So moved.

[14:11] Moved >> by Treasur Anderson. Do we have support?

[14:14] Support. Support. Trustee Oling. Any further discussion?

[14:20] I just point out that this is a three-year average.

[14:23] » Yeah, this is the same amount as it was the prior year.

[14:26] » We're in the second year. Three year. >> Yep. Thank you for the point of order on

[14:31] the discussion. >> That doesn't call for a roll call. I'm

[14:35] going to ask for one. Gotcha. Um, so we had we have a motion and we have support

[14:40] and I would like a a roll call, please. >> Anderson.

[14:45] » Yes. Trusty Oling, >> yes.

[14:49] » Trusty Abby, >> yes.

[14:51] » Supervisor Hill, >> yes.

[14:54] » Yes. >> Okay, that's five

[15:00] yeses and nos. And I'll declare that motion passed.

[15:05] We're on to the Garris Township Fire and EMS. I will read that statement again,

[15:10] required statement for it, and look for somebody to make that motion. The board

[15:14] determines the fire protection and emergency medical services to be in the

[15:17] best interest of the township and that a special assessment district be created

[15:22] under the provision of public act 81 of 1989 in which costs of such service

[15:28] shall be assessed according to benefits. The total expenditures for fire

[15:32] protection emergency medical services for 202728

[15:37] fiscal year have been determined to be $1,785,250

[15:43] with a capital equipment carryover of $754,326.

[15:50] Durable equipment carryover $165 $165,63

[15:57] with $263,49 in capital project carryover and in

[16:03] parentheses facilities and $19,232 in durable equipment EMS carryover. The

[16:11] special assessment district shall contain all taxable property within the

[16:14] township with a millage rate to be 3.03 03 mills no increase from the prior rate

[16:21] to yield 1,352,863.

[16:26] I would entertain that motion to move. Moved by Treasury Anderson.

[16:33] » Supported by clerk Squireers. Any further discussion?

[16:38] Roll call. >> Yes.

[16:42] » Hill. >> Yes.

[16:44] » Trusty A. >> Yes. As

[16:46] a >> yes,

[16:47] » treasure Anderson. >> Yes.

[16:50] » Five yays and no nays. That declare that motion as passed.

[17:00] » No fire. >> Are any puzzled looks out in the

[17:04] audience at all there? There's that's after a couple public hearings how all

[17:08] that got devised just so that you know. Okay, we are on to number eight on your

[17:15] agenda. The Garris Township Fire and uh EMS uh captain

[17:20] appointment to Mike Bentley. And so I would entertain a motion that board

[17:25] approve the recommendation of Chief Gilliam to promote Mike Bentley to the

[17:30] rank of captain for the Garris Township Fire Department and EMS.

[17:35] » I'll make that motion. Uh trustee Appy >> I'll support

[17:41] » support clerk Squireers any further discussion board about that wisdom

[17:48] hearing none all those in favor indicate by saying I

[17:51] » I oppose the same motion carries thank you

[17:58] congratulation to Mike

[18:02] we number nine is Garris Township fire and EMS lieutenant appointment Josh

[18:06] Sanford. And so I would entertain a motion to approve the recommendation of

[18:11] Chief Gilliam to promote Josh Sanford to the rank of lieutenant for the Gartown

[18:16] Chief Fire Department and EMS. Anybody make

[18:19] » Thank Squires Sport Trustee Oling. Any further discussion board

[18:28] hearing? None. All those in favor indicator saying I I oppose the same

[18:33] motion carries. Thank you.

[18:40] that comes after a some uh reorganization by the new chief uh

[18:44] within the department. Uh number uh 10, Garris Township Parks

[18:51] and Recreation appointment of Mike Dystra to the one-year term. I would

[18:56] entertain uh that the board approve the appointment of Mike Dystra to the parks

[19:01] and reccks committee effective immediately to fulfill a vacant one-year

[19:06] term that actually ends April 1 of 27 and then we'll have to do it again if he

[19:10] wants to stay on because it's been a vacant uh situation there. Everybody

[19:16] understand that? All right. Who would like to make that motion?

[19:20] » So moved. >> Treasure Anderson and I think Clerk

[19:24] Squires. >> You bet. Okay. Uh, any further

[19:27] discussion on Mr. Dyster's appointment? Hearing none.

[19:33] All those in favor indicate by saying I. >> I oppose the same. Motion carries. Thank

[19:38] you. 10. Number 11 is another parks and recrecks

[19:44] appointment or shall I say reappointment of Dan Simon to the one-year term. Dan

[19:49] somehow slipped through the cracks and didn't get reappointed is what I best I

[19:53] can tell. But he stayed involved. >> What's that?

[19:55] » He's contined involved, but it was just under procedure there. And I I think the

[20:00] everybody knows now that when those things are, so they can just get them to

[20:04] us when that happens >> from the from the parks and reccks

[20:07] committee. So this is just kind of straighten it up, shall I say, the

[20:10] books? I'll speak. >> So, I would entertain a motion to board

[20:13] reappoint approve the reappoint of Dan Simon to the parks and reccks committee

[20:18] effective immediately to fulfill a one-year term ending April 1 of 2027.

[20:25] » So, moved. >> Uh, okay. Get moved by Trustee Oling.

[20:28] » No support. >> Uh, trustee Oppy.

[20:32] Any further discussion? All those in favor indicate by saying I.

[20:37] » I. >> I. I. Oppose. the same.

[20:40] That motion carries. Um, Susan, can you clarify the last name spelling of Mr.

[20:46] Simon? Is it S I M O N or is it S Y M O N?

[20:51] S I S Simmon.

[20:55] Oh, >> say it's SI though

[20:58] » with one M. >> It's SI.

[21:00] » Yeah. >> And it's Simmon.

[21:02] » I knew I was remembering something there. I apologize.

[21:04] » One M. >> Okay. It is SI. Is it with one M though?

[21:10] » Okay. So, it's S. >> It's Simon, not Simon,

[21:14] » right? Pronounced. >> Well, we're not misspelling paychecks

[21:17] because it's a volunteer position. >> No,

[21:20] » if anybody might be wondering. >> Okay.

[21:23] » All right. Very good. I'm gonna try and commit that one to memory.

[21:26] » Very good. >> All right. We are on to uh number 12. Uh

[21:31] number 12 tonight. Uh we intended to have a doc the document from the Higgins

[21:36] Lake Foundation. The history behind it is is they had given uh we had applied

[21:42] for a $10,000 grant uh for our health of Higgins Lake folks uh for the Southern

[21:48] Park project process, excuse me, >> project easy. And when Mr. Oling went to

[21:55] do the presentation, um they actually gave him 16,500. But we

[22:00] need a document from the HLF for an addendum of some nature that that's

[22:06] indeed what we would receive here >> for our books here. So I'm going to ask

[22:10] that we table that uh this evening and uh we'll put it on for the next

[22:18] » time we're all together. So I need a motion to table that.

[22:24] » So make I'll make the motion. >> Okay. And then do we have support to

[22:28] table work by trustee lastly?

[22:33] Any further discussion about tableabling that hearing? None. All those in favor

[22:37] indicate by saying I >> I oppose the same. Motion carries. Thank

[22:42] you. >> Also in line with that number 13 is the

[22:47] FL Vanderbrink professional services agreement. Uh and

[22:53] um until we get that straight straightened away and uh Jim want to

[22:58] check a couple more things on the agreement.

[23:00] » Yeah, there's just u there's just a couple of line items that that need

[23:04] further clarification and um I haven't heard back from them as of today. So I

[23:10] will uh make that happen and when it's ready I'll get it back to the board.

[23:13] » Okay. I would make a motion that we table that professional service

[23:17] agreement discussion and the signature of it. I'll support that.

[23:21] » Okay. Uh any further discussion board? All those in favor to table that item

[23:28] indicate saying I. >> I.

[23:30] » I. The same. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Number 14 is the L4029

[23:37] which is the document that we um have to send off to the county assessor.

[23:45] Assessing >> is it or is it the

[23:47] » equalization? >> Equalization. her exact title.

[23:50] » Yep. And uh so the book the board needs to

[23:54] approve both the supervisor and the clerk to sign on behalf of the township

[24:00] the L4029 for the year presenting to millages and special assessments as

[24:05] presented. Do we have a motion? >> Make that motion.

[24:09] » Okay. Trusty Oling or excuse me, we have support.

[24:15] » Second. Treasure Anderson. Any further discussion? Hearing

[24:20] none. All those in favor indicate by saying I I oppose the same. Motion

[24:26] carries. Thank you. >> So you two sign this.

[24:29] » Yep. I have it right here. >> If you could I

[24:31] » today. I'm going to get it done tonight. I'm going to copy you on it. I'm going

[24:35] to send it. >> Perfect.

[24:37] » In the morning. >> It's due by September 30th, I believe.

[24:40] » Doesn't matter. He expected it yesterday. Oh,

[24:46] okay. Um number 15 um the Garish Township

[24:53] clerk uh as she had presented um would like the board to entertain uh hiring

[25:00] the part-time a part-time uh office uh help uh for training to replace our

[25:07] deputy clerk who will be leaving um soon I guess uh and we talked about that at

[25:14] the work session obviously and So, um, the motion here would be to approve

[25:21] Clerk Squires to hire Alexis Marches. >> Mar,

[25:25] » is it Mari? >> I don't know if I say it wrong. Mar, I

[25:29] don't know if it's >> M A R C H E S E

[25:31] » like Marchy but with March. >> I don't know.

[25:36] » She hasn't corrected me. So, >> as a part-time office employee to train

[25:39] as a replacement for the soontobe vacant deputy clerk position. Do I have a

[25:44] motion? I'll make that motion.

[25:48] » Clerk Squires, do we have support? >> Second.

[25:52] » Treasure Anderson, any further discussion?

[25:56] » These are to fill some training days basically. So, um, any other discussion?

[26:03] All those in favor indicate by saying I >> I oppose the same. Motion carries.

[26:10] And number 16, the master plan. Um, as you all heard at our work session, um,

[26:16] our job is to kind of move this thing, if you will, forward for a 63-day public

[26:21] comment section. Um, and, uh, so that is what's before us. I would entertain a a

[26:29] motion that the board approve the distribution of the draft master plan

[26:32] dated August 26, 2026 for public comment per the requirements of public act 33 of

[26:39] 2008 as amended Michigan planning enabling act. I would entertain that

[26:45] motion. So moved by treasurer Anderson support

[26:49] » I'll support >> support by clerk Squires. Any further

[26:52] discussion about that topic

[26:56] hearing? None. All those in favor and you kept saying I

[26:59] » I >> I

[27:01] » oppose the same. Motion carried. It was all a little slow there, but that's

[27:04] okay. We got them. I think um >> it it is it it is there. It's available.

[27:11] There's several different ways. You go on our face page of our website and

[27:14] you'll see the different ways to access to be able to read the document and

[27:19] obtain the document and to comment. uh during that 63-day period, we will

[27:25] compile those comments and um through our leazison, get them back to the

[27:30] planning commission. Um they at a later date would have to do a public hearing

[27:35] and uh so they can review that stuff um as their time frame. So, yep.

[27:43] » All right. Thank you. We've now come to the uh last part of the agenda, which

[27:46] are our regular announcements. Oop, excuse me.

[27:52] comments. >> You just did an offerive.

[27:54] » I'm sorry. >> In the

[27:55] » That's right. back and forth. >> Yeah. We're on to the public comment

[28:00] section. Public comment. Yes, sir. Come on up.

[28:07] » Please state your name so that they can get it for the record.

[28:10] » For anybody who doesn't know you, >> I know everybody here, but

[28:14] » for anybody that doesn't, Ken Melvin, thank you. veteran and longtime Ross

[28:19] Common County and Garish Township resident.

[28:23] Um, first of all, I'd like to thank all of

[28:27] you for the job that you've been doing. Mary Joe,

[28:31] Michelle, our wonderful deputy clerk, Brian, Jim,

[28:35] Jim, Chief Mashinsky. It's too often you you you hear all the

[28:42] bad stuff or something. You don't you know I was I I was public office, too. I

[28:46] was elected official and it's, you know, disappointing when you don't you receive

[28:50] any support or any recognition for the the job that you're doing. The pay

[28:55] doesn't cover it. You're not doing it for the pay. You're not doing it for

[28:57] fame. You're doing it because you want to continue serving the township. So,

[29:01] thank you very much for that. And the commissioner in the back there, Kim

[29:08] Morick. Jim Marley. She's in my opinion she's doing an excellent job

[29:14] representing the township on the county board. She's very conscientious. She

[29:19] doesn't sherk her duties. She does she goes beyond and above and

[29:27] thank you for the service you're providing to the township from the

[29:31] county. And the other reason I'm here is I live on Oakwood Drive, a short piece

[29:36] of road that hasn't had any maintenance for a long time and it's deteriorating.

[29:40] I've seen the road plan now tonight. It's not on the road plan for anything

[29:44] in the future, but there's been a millage passed and maybe there's going

[29:49] to be some funds. So, anything that can be done from the township end to get

[29:56] some consideration on that, get it on the plan or master plan or something

[30:00] there. And then I'll I I imagine then probably go to the road commission

[30:05] meeting and then talk to them too. I've talked

[30:08] to them once, just the supervisor and the guys out there on the road when they

[30:12] were there one day, but I'll go over to one of their formal meetings. And

[30:16] hopefully I don't get uh you're >> I said I was never going back to another

[30:20] road commission meeting after they gabbled me in public comment.

[30:26] » It wasn't a time limit. They just didn't like hearing what I was saying.

[30:30] That's >> and you know, excuse me. You know, the

[30:35] the supervisor is going to gabble me in public comment because he doesn't like

[30:38] what I'm saying. Is there a limit on the public comment? Is there

[30:42] » There is three minutes. >> Three minutes. Okay. I'm sorry.

[30:44] » Hey, Ken, you're talking about from 103. Does does that in fact

[30:51] » it goes to the burdell corner, right? It still hasn't gone around very Okay. All

[30:57] right. >> It was a really nice

[31:00] Yep. >> Some maintenance, but there hasn't been

[31:02] for a long time. >> So, it's north to

[31:05] » Bernell. We don't get some seal over that this

[31:11] winter. It's I I'd hate to see what it's going to be like in the springtime, but

[31:15] » may not happen, but we can make we can do for you, Ken.

[31:18] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[31:21] » You contact

[31:26] Roger. >> His friend. His friend Roger.

[31:29] move right along.

[31:34] » I can ask for uh Jeff Presc

[31:41] back back on Oakwood Drive. Um I've been installing fiber optic

[31:47] cable for the past three years around Northern Michigan.

[31:53] Some pretty rural areas have been getting their highspeed internet. We

[31:58] have nothing on Oakwood. Natural gas highspeed internet.

[32:05] And I I'm just wondering if there's something that can be done about it.

[32:09] There's eight full-time residents there.

[32:14] » I don't know how to answer that. I can, you know, and Kim might know better and

[32:19] I do, but you know, we're considered out in this area underserved

[32:24] and and uh I know the problem you got because I live in the woods and I end up

[32:31] getting Starlink to get my internet because it's the only way I could get it

[32:36] because when I called Verizon twice over a 10-year period, the quote

[32:41] that I got to go down my driveway was over $10,000. dollars

[32:46] » to put, you know, cable down there. So, >> um, there's supposedly money out there

[32:53] that, and there was a I don't know, Kim, if you could address this later, but I

[32:58] know there was a group out of Traverse City was supposedly

[33:02] » SH capital moving this direction. They talked to us even

[33:07] » about that, but it just seemed like I don't know if the money went dry or the

[33:11] initiative went dry, but >> well, there was a kaibos put to the

[33:15] infrastructure money that was >> being involved in that, but I know you

[33:19] had to get the paperwork in everything where all be done. I mean, Mount Morreny

[33:23] County, we spent a lot of time up there. Gets pretty rural. We run

[33:27] » real rural. >> We we run fiber optic to a hunting camp

[33:31] back. I mean, like two miles back in >> Yeah.

[33:34] Well, I do know that Cherry Capital um a neighbor called over on County Road 200

[33:39] this past week and there was some marking done for Cherry Capital and it

[33:45] was supposedly of course marked on somebody's property and and it really

[33:49] was in the road easement piece there. So, I think they may still be around,

[33:54] but I don't know to what totality that they're fulfilling.

[33:57] » On the border of Marquy Township, like >> Well, this one was on Coner 200 by

[34:02] President's Boulevard uh over there just north of the country corners. They

[34:07] » Well, it just it kind of makes me wonder with the the populace of this township

[34:12] and county, you know, how come we weren't involved in this?

[34:16] » Great question. >> It's just uh Sure. It's

[34:20] with our tax base and everything. Why are we being left behind?

[34:25] » Great question. >> Very good.

[34:29] » Y that's about it.

[34:32] » Thank you. >> Appreciate you coming.

[34:34] » Thanks, Jeff. >> Thanks, Jeff.

[34:44] You have anybody on? >> I have you. We're in the room first as

[34:49] we always do >> that question to see if I can

[34:53] » Well, I just know that that initiative was at the county level. It was for

[34:57] broad years ago. >> I don't I've lost track years. I think

[35:01] it's been a while. Sure. >> It's been a while.

[35:02] » Um >> I might have a connection with Cherry

[35:05] Capital that I can try to look into on that one.

[35:09] » Great. I know Spectrum just announced that they put more cable for TV stuff

[35:15] and internet in four of our counties. Marky, Ros Common,

[35:21] » Lion Townships. >> Yeah. So, I know that's coming. But, you

[35:25] know, I understand I live out uh on 40 acres and I have to stream with

[35:31] T-Mobile, but hey, I was the only person who had in our county building really

[35:37] that had internet during the ice storm. >> T-Mobile survived. I don't know how

[35:41] because their cell service is not great, but anyway, but I will try to see if I

[35:46] can't find out what I know from a county level where that went because that was

[35:49] prior to me. Yeah, I will add that to my list. Um, a couple, well, several

[35:55] updates because I haven't been able to come in one of the last meetings. So,

[35:58] just as a reminder, if you haven't seen it already, the Gypsy Moth program has

[36:03] changed for this upcoming year. A lot of litigation has been going around

[36:08] different topics of it, but really around personal property privacy. And

[36:13] so, because of that, we now have to ask for permission in advance. So, in the

[36:18] past, if you were at your house when they showed up to either survey or to

[36:22] spray, they ask still, but now they can't go there at all until you have

[36:29] given permission. So, um I have a copy of the card. Those postcards are getting

[36:34] mailed out to everyone in the county and that way, but you have to do that every

[36:41] time this comes around. It's not a one-time permission. So, it's going to

[36:44] be a little bit more leg work and a little more expense, but that's what we

[36:49] have today. >> Did I get that? That

[36:51] » you got to have that card signed before they'll come to your house to

[36:55] » to chat about it. You don't >> walk up to your door and see if they're

[36:58] knocking on the door and >> they may if they know somebody's there.

[37:02] » But the problem is is that's risky every time they start to go out. So, they're

[37:06] trying to get a >> to not have to worry if you're home or

[37:09] not. But if you're there and they show up, you can say no or you can say yes.

[37:14] » So, um, emergency management, um, I just wanted to remind people that because of

[37:20] those emergency managements that we had, there is still an SBA loan that's

[37:26] available for businesses and nonprofits that, you know, disa for disaster

[37:32] relief. And I have a flyer on when the deadline for that is, so I can I'll give

[37:36] those to you as well. Um we are um Commissioner Milbour is

[37:42] doing a 911 remembrance. I know uh Chief Gileiam has been very helpful in that

[37:47] too. So thank her. So that will be on I've got a flyer for that'll be at 8:15

[37:52] on September 11th coming up. serving on the Northern Lakes Community

[37:58] Mental Health and I know I've talked a little bit about them in the past, but

[38:02] with the changes that are coming down from the feds around

[38:06] Medicaid eligibility and trying to clean that up.

[38:12] That is 90% of all of our mental health funds that we use. And so, and there's

[38:18] really strict requirements on what you can use that for and what you can't. So,

[38:22] the general fund, which is part of what we try to contribute to as a county, can

[38:26] only be used for certain things as well. Um, it's a long there's a lot to it, but

[38:31] I wanted to let you guys know that there might be a request to the county to

[38:35] increase a one-time amount of the fund that we give. Back by law, that amount

[38:40] that we have contributed has not changed for decades. It was written into law

[38:44] that you can't go more. And so, now it could be a different scenario going

[38:50] forward. trying not to abuse the mental health code. Real disparency between how

[38:57] they fund and what the public health code requires o over the years. So, um

[39:02] just to give you an idea because one of the things I've told you before we're

[39:06] really trying to work on is saying if you want more what is it doing to us and

[39:10] are we paying I don't say equal but commensurate to

[39:15] the surrounding counties. So we average in Ross Common County, we serve about

[39:19] 300 people a month with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Programs.

[39:25] We pay them 57,000 a year. It's the way it's been forever.

[39:30] But when you look at that, >> say that again.

[39:33] » What is it? 57,000 a year. >> 7,000 a year

[39:38] » for 300 a month. Is that average? >> That's the average. So that's that's

[39:44] about$,583 a person a month. Now Crawford only serves 190. They pay

[39:53] 35,000. Msaki is at 35,000 and they do 137

[40:00] average a month. Waxford is 535 people a month and they pay more than us 76,000.

[40:06] So we're the calculation is I can't describe that calculation. And I just

[40:11] know that when you look at the volume based upon what's been going on. So we

[40:15] have had very strong conversations with the new CEO about what does that look

[40:19] like. One of the things we cannot do well like we did in the past is the

[40:24] services that are in the jail. That is not a statutory thing. So that is a big

[40:30] need for us. So if we're going to do a one-time additional sum, what would that

[40:36] do for us? I don't know what that answer is today, but I just want to give you a

[40:38] heads up because I think mental health has been one of the things we've combed

[40:42] for years obviously and how it's being funded is being severely hurt from the

[40:47] state and the feds. So what are we going to do to

[40:50] » keep those things? >> Hopefully reach the patients if it's not

[40:54] in the jail. >> The formula is I mean it's

[40:57] » I don't know the formula of how they created that number

[41:00] » decades ago. So I don't know that where do they get served because they

[41:06] you can come in without the jail. >> No, I know you can, but I know the jail

[41:10] was a usually um always under the gun

[41:16] » because you know obviously there's movement not to incarcerate and it's

[41:20] been that way for dozens of years. The part that I from what I have heard today

[41:25] and what's happened over the last several years or couple is it's the

[41:30] service in the jail to give them um if you were suicidal let's just not

[41:36] give you an iPad and say go play like you need somebody that is qualified to

[41:40] come into the jail to do that. That's the part that we are missing today.

[41:44] » So there's still a lot to uncover. I think Northern Lakes I will give them a

[41:48] lot of credit of every agency that we donate money to. They have reduced

[41:52] staff. They they have done everything to make their finances work. They sold

[41:58] assets which used to be able to they would do interest in some of those

[42:01] things and use those to fund stuff and they can't do that anymore because they

[42:05] have to become whole and not be in a deficit like they had been forever.

[42:10] » So, um it's just a lot of moving parts for to me a very very important

[42:14] component to to keep our eyes on. I'll keep you posted. I don't know where

[42:18] that's going to go. It may stay at the number that we've been told to do for

[42:22] decades. I don't know that, but we'll see. Um,

[42:26] oh, another piece on that, just if if you're thinking of watching some of your

[42:30] legislators, Representative John Roth came to the meeting actually to speak to

[42:35] the group. First time I've ever had a legislator come to one of those agencies

[42:38] and actually have a meeting, not just a meet and greet. So, he is the chair of

[42:43] appropriations for DHHS, which is part of where that funding starts coming

[42:47] from. He said that this was a piece that they are going to try to work on in the

[42:51] next three months before they get a whole new batch of legislators to say

[42:56] what can we do to equalize the money that comes from the state to all the

[43:01] different counties and those regional entities. He believes that's important.

[43:06] Um I asked okay of your leadership team what are their top three priorities over

[43:11] the next three months? This wasn't listed. So then I questioned then how

[43:17] important and how confident do you think you can get something done if the

[43:20] leadership in your house is not making that a priority? That was a little bit

[43:25] of a skirted answer but at least he was pretty aware of the groups that are

[43:29] saying you need to make this import important. So anyway, okay, on them on

[43:35] Thursday, September 10th, which is right around the corner, um 11 to 1, Northern

[43:40] Lakes always has to have their annual public hearing and and and information

[43:46] game. It's going to start from 11 at 11:00. They're going to stream in from

[43:51] Traverse City each of the sites. So you'll hear the big overview of the

[43:55] challenges, what's happened, what's changed, what are the things they've

[43:58] done, and then we're going to break out and if you go to your respective

[44:01] location, I will be at the Hotton Lake location on that day to help facilitate,

[44:05] get information, that information will go back to when we have our board, I

[44:10] don't say retreat, but get together to go where do we focus? If we have money,

[44:15] if things change with the state and we can do services, what would they need to

[44:19] be? So, um, big push with this CEO to start pushing on our legislators for a

[44:27] change, but we know that's not going to happen tomorrow. So, we're going to see

[44:30] what we can do. That was a lot. Budget. Um, we have completed all the department

[44:35] head reports um that they have done. The only things we have left right now is

[44:39] drain commissioner, our board of commissioners budget, which is very

[44:44] small, uh, the controller and administrator's budget, and then any of

[44:47] the funds. So once we have all that, we will start to wrap up any of the needs,

[44:52] the wants, things that we'd like to stay committed to to our employees, like

[44:56] maybe fully funding our HSA still, don't know, and see where we're at from a fund

[45:01] balance perspective. This has been a much longer process than we have done in

[45:05] the past because we have met individually with them and really

[45:09] reviewed every request all the money and put them all and only um commissioner u

[45:14] or our chair censor and myself are the only two commissioners working through

[45:17] this instead of dividing and conquering and not everybody knowing the what

[45:21] everyone said. So at least the controller and us two have taken notes

[45:25] written everything down so we can compare properly.

[45:29] Also looking at our capital projects reviews, it really looks like the boiler

[45:33] project, which has been on this docket for probably another 10 years, has not

[45:38] been fixed. And so it looks like there will be money in the fund balance to

[45:42] help get that going so it's not cold in one room and hot in another and things

[45:46] leaking and stuff. So, um, kudos to Justin Man. He has done a great job as

[45:51] our new maintenance guy trying to really work through that. Um, a little bit of

[45:55] an update on the lake because I know we love talking about Higgins Lake at this

[45:59] group. Um, towards the end of August, these are just the facts that I might

[46:03] want to make sure people kind of understand of what has actually been

[46:06] done. So towards the end of August, a little over 3.36 over the summer legal

[46:14] level. So it started to get pretty heavy rains and so there got to be about over

[46:19] an inch and so one gate got pulled pushed pulled out for about 50% of it.

[46:26] So then um it didn't seem to be going down so they opened up that gate 100%.

[46:33] As of today because of the other new rain and more f future rain the to they

[46:39] were requesting to put another gate open.

[46:42] So hopefully we can try to balance the as the statute allows weather and

[46:49] recreational need at this point in time. But if anybody has any questions that

[46:54] they have about that, I highly suggest that they email our chair and ask those

[46:59] questions in that format because it's easier to respond and then we can get

[47:03] other information out word for word, verbatim, and not this is what I think I

[47:08] heard. But those are the facts of what's happened.

[47:11] Um, a little shout out our new prosecuting attorney, Susan Dylan. Um,

[47:17] we had a huge backlog when she came on board. Stacks. I'm not kidding. Stacks

[47:22] papers. Um, backlogs done. >> Oh,

[47:27] » yeah. >> Um, to give you an idea of the number of

[47:29] cases and what happened in just 2025, January through December, 654 cases.

[47:36] That's about 15 a month. in her time, January through the end of August, 634

[47:42] cases. That's 24 cases a month. So, she is just moving hard. Her team has worked

[47:50] really well together. They're doing good. Two of the oldest cases from 2023

[47:54] and 2024 have also been cleared. So, we are now,

[47:59] » but we are also seeing much more volume of taking them to court and moving it.

[48:05] So we don't see that there's going to be a huge slowdown, but at least the

[48:08] backlog is done. So >> anytime you have backlog, especially

[48:13] criminal complaints, you have backlogs, warrants get issued, and then it puts

[48:16] pressure on the trial side on the other. So she is amazing. I will I concur with

[48:22] you. >> Her team has worked incredibly hard to

[48:26] fix what what they walked into. I have copies of all those that I just talked

[48:30] to you about. I'll leave those with you. Other than Cherry Capital for internet

[48:34] stuff, anything else I can take back for our meeting tomorrow?

[48:39] » Not that I can think of. >> I have something I want to talk to you

[48:43] about, but this isn't the forum. >> Well, you just have to tease me with

[48:47] that right here. Right. It's all good. All right. I'll be around for a little

[48:50] bit afterwards anyway. Anything else? >> Great. Thank you for coming.

[48:54] » Thank you very much. You bet. >> Thanks. Anybody else in the room?

[49:00] Thank you. Not seeing anybody. Do we have anybody

[49:04] on Zoom? Amanda for a comment or a comment. You said no. Okay.

[49:16] Okay. Very good. Not hearing any. Um and so we're off to announcements. Uh

[49:22] Trusty, an announcement of any nature? >> Um

[49:28] I don't think so. I mean, the parks are going to be starting to, you know, clean

[49:32] up for the winter and and that uh whole pro process. Um, I appreciate

[49:39] everybody's uh being okay about my lack of ability right now and the time time

[49:46] we heal. No, I don't have anything else. Thank you.

[49:49] » All right. Very good. Thank you. Uh, clerk Squire, anything on announcement?

[49:54] » I feel like I was just here. We have the uh

[49:57] » we were >> the

[50:00] the the the >> runch

[50:06] run's coming up uh

[50:08] » on the sign out front. >> It's on the police department.

[50:13] » Yep. >> Registration at 505.

[50:16] » Y >> outstanding. That's a run or a walk,

[50:19] right? >> Or a bike.

[50:20] » Or a bike. Run, walk, bike. >> And bring your dog.

[50:24] » Bring your dog. Or if you just want to contribute and

[50:27] buy a shirt, that's good, too. >> What year is it now for that? Do you

[50:32] remember >> 17th or something?

[50:38] » 18 going on 18th year. >> Who knows for special?

[50:42] » Yep. >> Fabulous.

[50:43] » I got nothing on you guys. >> Okay. Trusty. Uh also

[50:48] » I don't think anything um the uh compost sites

[50:54] you got talked about that or there's nothing to talk about I guess but that's

[50:57] been >> relatively calm and it's going to start

[51:00] picking up again now as the season goes. Um

[51:03] » lots of lots and lots of stuff going on at the health of Higgins Lake. I don't

[51:07] have anything particular to talk about I guess. So,

[51:12] » got a couple of grants that were like I we mentioned earlier they were finishing

[51:16] up the details on and so things are good.

[51:19] » We're good. Uh, Treasure Anderson, >> uh, just something that's noteworthy,

[51:27] those of that were involved in the, you know, that we talked about special

[51:31] assessment for the, uh, sanitation, and it's based on the

[51:39] costs that were provided to us at the time that we uh, we're working this all

[51:44] out. There is a clause in that agreement. If

[51:50] the fuel prices diesel gets above $5 a gallon,

[51:54] » there'll be a search charge, which >> we did get.

[51:57] » Yeah. So, you know, that may muddy up our calculations if that's for an

[52:03] extended period of time. >> So, just something to keep in the back

[52:07] of your mind. >> Yeah. After this,

[52:11] » I think we were charged a month or a month.

[52:15] one month or two months this this year that we were charged that for search

[52:20] charge. >> Well, I don't know when the diesel

[52:24] prices will come down, but if it stays above $5 a gallon, you will will be

[52:29] paying that sir charge. So, >> just something to think about. Uh taxes

[52:36] uh the 14th is the last day to pay without a penalty. We'll be open till

[52:40] 5:00 that day. and a lot of people are coming in right now. So, it's been very

[52:46] busy. Uh the septic ordinance, uh the planning commission will be meeting

[52:52] Thursday night and uh that is our primary topic. Uh I sat in with your

[53:01] committee today. They drugged me in there and uh so uh but it was it was

[53:07] worthwhile because it did give me some more perspective. Uh, but we're going to

[53:12] be working diligently on that. I don't know when that'll have a actual draft,

[53:18] but your committee would was shooting for February. I'm not sure. I mean, for

[53:24] passing the ordinance, and I'm not sure that's reasonable at this point, but

[53:29] we'll see. And then of course the master plan is uh now available and we've got

[53:35] roughly two months to to uh respond if you for the public if you would like to

[53:41] add or make comment to it. We actually when you put it on the site today there

[53:46] was somebody that already commented on it. So they're they're they're coming

[53:51] in. >> Um that's it.

[53:54] » Okay. Um I don't have any other announcements or otherwise. So I would

[53:59] entertain a motion >> to

[54:03] No, you put that on the website today. >> Is there a place at the end of it for

[54:08] them to comment or >> your comment either you're going to

[54:12] click and comment directly with McKenna or you can create a comment and turn it

[54:17] in here. >> Okay.

[54:18] » And emails right right now currently the receptionist email on it.

[54:23] » Okay. and she is going to um she's going to print those off and put them in a

[54:28] file for our leazison Jim be able to go back and they came here.

[54:33] » We won't be compiling them but can but we'll once we get this thing rolled out

[54:39] uh I'll work out with Ashley who is our new uh leazison and then she'll tell me

[54:46] how often or how and how to supply. get a hard copy and I've got a hard copy

[54:53] printed. I'll get it in a binder and out if somebody wants to come in and see it.

[54:57] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[55:00] » Thank you. >> All right. So, I would entertain a

[55:02] motion to during this meeting at 7:55. >> Second that.

[55:09] » Well, I'd entertain a motion. Is that first? First. All right. I'll second.

[55:15] » Well, Mary Joe had it, so >> All right. Very good. Any further

[55:19] discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor

[55:22] indicate by saying I. I. I. >> Oppos same. Motion carried. Thank you

[55:26] very much everybody for joining. >> Copy.

Gerrish Township Board Meeting 9/8/26

Transcript